Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1887-04-09
AMONG THE BALL TOssERs.
How the Statesmen Play Ball In the
Practice Games,

|
How the Statesmen Play Ball in the
Practice Games.
THE HOME TKAM-CoMPosTTIoN OF THE DISTRICT
AMATEUR LEAGUE-GAMEs YESTERDAY, &C.
A week OF ball playing in the preliminary prac
tice games has served to give very fair tnsigh,
into the workings OF the new rules and the work.
| ings OF the reorganized Nationals As to the
former 1t Is safe TO say that they meet with gen
! eral favor, particularly among the spectators
| The players are not in love with them and the
batteries feel that they are too severely treated
| The pitchers feel handicapped In being allowed
but five balls, while the batters are entitled te
four strikes especially the pitching restrictions
| hamper them In their delivery. 1t was not ex-
pected that pitchers would approve OF such radi
cal changes at the start, and 1t is thought that
| as they grow more accustomed to them many OF
| their objections Will disappear 1t is probable
That much OF their dissatisfaction is occasoned by
their enueavOrlng and failing to certain extent
In OBTAINING the same speed and the same
| DECEPTIVE DELIVERY
| that made them effective under the former rules.
Notwithstanding the fact that they are greatly re-
| stricted In their preliminary movements and are
compelled to put ball after ball over the plate
when they ADAPT themselves to the necessary re-
strictions, much of their opposition it is thought
VIII disappear. 1t Is not likely that the umpire
4
| TACT that he has much more latitude In Judging
DaIlS IL seems as II the crowd must have a vent
Dg lust e6 NohoSn waen things are not 60
batter with a base hit when he is given his base
on balls.
PLEASING TO TIE PUBLIC.
Taking everything into consideration however,
the new rules promise to please the public. After
an the spectators are the ones to be pleased, for
they pay the money with which to pay salaries,
Iney IKE 10 see batting and there promises to be
plenty Oh 1t under the new rules. Even should the
plCcnerS prove just effective as formerly. the
additional strike gives the batter another oppor-
tunty 10 hit the ball. while the pitcher is allowed
one Tess pad bail, and is compelled to be very
c1oicy WIN his curves thereby giving the batter
additional chances Base ball patrons have al
way . uisnked games played almost entirely by
tests.
THE HOME PLAYERS
AS 10 the abilities Of the home team there is but
one verdict that Of general and emphatic approval
Not only do the recent additions give satisfaction,
but the old players seem imbued with new life and
energy. Farrell took good care OF himself during
Inc winter, and the effect is already apparent.
he couldn't begin to run bases last year as he can
now, although he is hardly nmbered-up yet. The
way he throws himself at base when necessary
Is very encouraging. When the captain sets o
good example his men are apt to follow 1t. Kreig,
VINO made such favorable impression last year,
bids fair TO make better one this year. The wis
dom OF Manager Gaffney's determination to keep
MN on nrSt base On account OF his batting IL for
nothing else, is apparent. Carroll appears To be as
good base runner as ever, and that is saying
great deal He has taken to batting r1ght-handed,
anu likes tne change, judging by the way he is
hitting the ball Shock plays q good game, but Is
apt TO show poor Judgment OF fly balls In the right
SHAW AND GILLIGAN
are OF course, splendid team; everybody knows
that. Shaw experiences considerable difficulty
with the new rules yet, but is gradually getting
the hang OF them. In the game with Williams
College team he found new swing Of the foot
which helped him amazingly. Gilligan is not in
ties OF the little fellow is that he plays about as
Well out OF condition as when thoroughly trained.
o oan mas Jumped into popular favor, and the
Denny never will be missed. He plays his posi-
ZION with Judgment and skill, and Is particularly
good at catching ugly foul flies back OF third base
He is terror at the bat, and seldom fails to hit
the pail and when he does the work Is cut out for
some neider He takes good stand when at the
Dat, and meets the ball with swing from the
shoulders that Will put many base hit to his
credit. AS somebody in the grand stand re-
marked the other day, 'that man will get the bali
over"
SECOND KELLY.
1t begins to look as II Manager GafYney was
about right when he said before the practice
games commenced, Il shant be at all surprised If
| have picked up q second Kelly in O'Brfen."
and although he has had but little opportunity TO
show on TO advantage he has done enough to show
and the batting nine strengthened. Dealy, who is
10 oe back stop for O'Day, has made a splendid
impression He catches ODays swift delivery
runs bases like deer. The fact that Boston
played him 50 little last year and then released
him. MN rather prejudiced the public against him.
Boston mad and was glad OF the chance to get him
PAUL HINES CASE
IL Paul Hines finally consents to I'LL his Old POSI-
tion in center-neld, the Statesmen will prove q
hard nut for any Of the league teams to crack.
Hines, however. still holds Oh, and the manage
ment appears as determined as ever not to give in
70 bis demands for 81, 500 The MANAGEMENT states
that at one time everything was satisfactory, and
that Hines agreed to play, and contract was pre-
out Of the bargain and demanded more money.
which was refused, and will be. 1t is not for the
public 70 decide the rights or wrongs OF the case,
Dut IL Is the sincere wish Of every one who visits
Capltoi PARK that Hines shall be among the States.
men when the championship season opens
A TRIP 10 BALTIMORE
The Nationals will go over to Baltimore on We'd
nesday to cross bats with the American Assocfa
ton team OF that city. The contest will be very
interesting one, as both teams have been practI
cally reconstructed, and the result will be some
what significant as showing the relative merits of
the two teams. Manager Gaf1ney does not in
tend, however, that it shall be q blooded game
and viii instruct his men not to overexert them.
one man. The Nationals nine will consist of
ODay and Dealy. battery; kreig, Farrell and
OBr1en, on the bases: Myers, ShOrt-StOp: Carroll
Whitney and Shock, in the field, with Mack as an
extra man, in case OF necessity. Nine men viii be
left behind to meet the Cuban giants on that day
They will be Shaw and Gilligan, battery: Baker
Crane and DOnnelly, on the bases: Stuart. short.
shop, and Heating, Keefe and Gilmore In the
field.
THE DEPARTMENT cLRRxs
form large contingent Of the base ball public.
and those belonging to the uptown departments
are particularly anxious that better means OF
reaching the grounds be afforded them They
think IL few extra hertlicS should be run in the
afternoon from the corner OF 18th and streets d.
rect to Capitol Park that It would pay AS it ia
now they have TO walk to 18th street after o'clock
only TO ind all the cars crowded.
DISTRICT ANATURR LEAGUE.
The following clubs and players viii constitute
the District League and contend for the pennant.
Pension ONCE B. B. Club, W. A. Smith, man
ager.-Robert Cook, Jno. E. Hoffman, E. W.
Brooks, Henry C. Merrill, W. Hahn. Thomas
Brown, Danl. viehmeyer, VIM. Houck, Bernard P.
Rupert. J. F. sullivan, G. w. johnson, Ross Cor
Meridian B. B. Club, Edwin 7. McQueeney man
Queeney, JAS 7. Quinn, VIM. j. CromptOn Emmett
Z. COrcoran, j. T. Barrett, l. Moore.
Athletic b. B. Club, Geo. w. Larner, manager
Harry E. Courtney, Fred. H.vOgt, Chas. Heitfnger
ChaS. K. Allen, Geo. F. Smith, j. E. Jones' G. p
Dallas, j. Harry Atchison, w. e. Warren, Geo, w.
Schneider.
Peabody r. r. Club I. A. CaIlan manager